Wellington County council has approved a new lease of the current library building in Arthur, while at the same time it has set a construction timetable for a new building there.
Manager of purchasing and risk management services Mark Bolzon told the library committee in his report that the county has a lease agreement for the library branch at 183 George Street in Arthur with Sussman’s Men’s Wear Ltd.
But, he said, the county was recently notified that Sussman’s has sold the building to Tut Brothers Canada Ltd., so the lease had to be renegotiated.
The sale had been completed in early November.
Bolzon explained the new owners are prepared to assume the existing lease agreement, which expires May 31, 2009, with a six month cancellation clause. The lease rate is set at $23,690 per year, payable monthly, or $9.48 per square foot.
Bolzon recommended the county sign a new agreement with Tut Brothers Canada for the same rate, paid in monthly installments, with the existing terms and conditions in place.
The information, seniors, and heritage committee approved the lease. It covers libraries.
The committee chairman, Brad Whitcombe, assured council the county has an escape clause for when the new library is ready, and that there will still be “a functioning library until we complete our own building.”
Building schedule
Meanwhile, county council is continuing with its plans to build new libraries in Arthur and Drayton.
That schedule included having both projects out for tenders on Dec. 3, and tenders closing on Dec. 20.
The library committee is expected to approve the tenders at its Jan. 10 meeting, and the administration, finance and personnel committee is to consider that award on Jan. 15.
Then, the contract comes to county council Jan. 31 for approval.
Groundbreaking is not yet set for either building, but it could be cold and snowy. The construction is scheduled to start on Feb. 4, and be completed by Sept. 1.
The groundbreaking date has yet to be set.
